But US rapper B.o.B. is crowd-funding the launch of satellites to see if he can get some evidence to the contrary.
The rapper, whose real name is Bobby Ray Simmons Jr, has been a vocal proponent of the Flat Earth theory - the claim the Earth is, in fact, a disc and not spherical.
Some proponents of the Flat Earth theory claim NASA employees guard the edge of the world to prevent people falling off.
Seeking to raise $200,000 (ยฃ150,000) on the GoFundMe crowd-funding website, B.o.B refers to himself as "Flat Earth Bob". At the time of writing he had raised a little over $650, but the campaign was trending on the GoFundMe site.
Comment: He's up to just over $5000 now. The sad thing is, even if this project went forward and showed the curvature of the earth, B.o.B. would be denounced by other flat-earthers as part of the cover-up.
'Show me the curve'
"I'm starting this GoFundMe because I would like to send one, if not multiple satellites, as far into space as I can, or into orbit as I can, to find the curve," he said in a video on the page.
"I'm looking for the curve," he added.
The curve which B.o.B refers to is a recurring theme in Flat Earthers' conspiracy theories. Adherents believe that, were the Earth actually round, then the curvature of the Earth would be more visible to the naked eye.
It is not the first time that the rapper has voiced his doubts. In 2016 he became embroiled in a Twitter spat with renowned astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
"The cities in the background are approximately 16 miles apart," he said, tweeting a picture of the skyline on the horizon.
"Where is the curve? Please explain this".
Neil DeGrasse Tyson was on hand to do just that.
"Earth's curve indeed blocks 150 foot of Manhattan," he wrote. "But most buildings in Midtown are waaay taller than that".
Some of those who have donated to B.o.B.'s campaign have expressed support for the rapper.
"When/if you do make sure you let me know," one person who donated $20 wrote. "I've been trying to tell folks that there is no curve, therefore the Earth is not a globe".
Others were more sceptical. "Here's $5 to prove yourself wrong," another donor commented.
Reader Comments
At some point, you have to believe somebody, or you're locked in a solipsistic nightmare. If you don't believe all the professional astronauts, astronomers, and pilots who have seen and photographed "the curve" and traveled completely around the earth, then what about all the amateurs? Is everyone involved in a giant conspiracy to deceive everyone else about the basic and easily verified spherical nature of all large celestial objects? If you really think so, seriously, seek help, because that's deeply paranoid. Sure, there's conspiracies, but not about this... I mean, just buy a cheap telescope and learn a little about astronomy, then verify it yourself, if you don't believe everyone else on Earth.
If anybody's somehow still genuinely confused about this issue, just stop; the earth is more or less spherical. There's lots of interesting conspiracies, and lots of rich controversies, but this ain't one of them. Flat-earthers are trolls, terminally stupid, or perhaps just very young and silly.
I would suggest that B.o.B. not mess with technologies he clearly doesn't understand, and simply embark on a long one way voyage. East, or west, doesn't matter. Travel builds character, and he's already got enough money raised to launch an expedition, if not a satellite. People might actually want to contribute to sending him on a long, one-way fact-finding voyage, for various reasons. When he finally and inevitably ends up back where he started, perhaps he'll devote his energies to something more productive or at least not counterproductive. In which case, that would be $5k+ well spent. Perhaps I should start a GoFundMe to launch B.o.B. himself around the spherical world...
So if said satellite crashes, his theory will be vindicated?!...
Would a satellite go around a flat earth?.. Whats on the other side of the coin? China?
hUH
Ain't no curve! Da man say dere is a curve. I don't see no Motherf#$%@n curve!!
Perceptual apparati differ from one person to another. Had you considered that BoB might see the world much in the same way that a dog does?
Black Culture Vs. Black Culture...
Bird...[Link]
Cockroach...[Link]